Northgate Medical Practice
1 Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1WLContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Lack of care or compassion
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Josephine Farley - Posted on 21 February 2023
After suffering with mental health issues for 23 years and currently taking high dose medication 300mg daily for depression and sleeping tablets the practice charged me £30 and had me chase a form for 5 weeks. A form they eventually refused to sign at all. The university form was to confirm my illness, and enable me to access some support and reasonable adjustments. I called 6 times in all and waited 5 weeks to end up being told mental illness is not a disability. (via a post it note on my form) and when I asked for a second opinion I received a short cold call from a new Dr who has never met me, a new Dr who told me, that mental illness does not “significantly” effect studies? I explained my university class mental illness as a disability and that I am trying to rebuild my life and simply needed a signature stating my treatment and illness do impact on my life. The Dr on the call was obnoxious and coldly told me he would not put his name to my mental health “significantly”affecting my studies. Despite a recent consultation with another Dr at the practice in which I begged for help, instead it was recommended I access Dorothy Pattison's, as they have more time. Even though suicide and self harm we discussed. The Dr on the call wouldn’t clarify when asked what he classed as “significant”. I outlined during the short call my struggles and difficulties with motivation, memory, concentration, tearfulness, anxiety, fear, days where I can’t face the world, but still I was told he didn't like the word “significant” I asked for a second opinion from a Dr who has met seen me several times. A week later I called the surgery again, (6th call now) to be told the practice all agreed and my form for support from my university would not be signed. I have since been declined any help from my university on the basis of this. The lack of compassion is beyond belief. Portland Drs often won’t see you in person, prescribing over the phone increasing meds to quieten me and now blocking me accessing support from university telling me instead to contact occupational health. May I add I have peers on much milder doses of medication that have had their forms signed by their GPs within days. The university has now declined me any support. I begged for help from a practice I’ve attended since 2015 to be left out to dry feeling alone and desperate wondering if to continue my course, at 46 my life has been blighted by mental illness but according to Portland this is not “significant” enough, maybe I need to self harm? Attempt suicide? What equates to “Significant?” My lecturers and friends have seen my struggles with my work and my determination since September 2022 but Portland fail to see it after 8 years with them. I am hurt and seek to tell anyone with mental health issues to avoid this practice there is no compassion or care. Appointments which are rarely face to face are rushed, you never see the same Dr, follow ups don’t happen, medication is sent to wrong chemists.
Visited January 2023
Review titled Northgate Medical Practice
Replied on 17 October 2023
Dear Patient Thank you for submitting your feedback. Unfortunately , we are not able to trace your details to allow us to respond in full. It is my belief you have added your review to the incorrect Practice, We are Northgate Medical Practice, Canterbury, Kent. Practice Manager
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Review titled Very poor service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Ray Adams - Posted on 11 December 2022
I am appalled at the level of patient service ( or rather lack thereof ) which I experienced on Monday 5th. December last. After a ridiculous amount of time wasted in a telephone queue ( in excess of 30 waiters ), I chose to visit the surgery in my efforts to try and obtain an appointment. After waiting in another line for more than 20 minutes, I finally got to speak to your receptionist, explaining that my visit was a last resort effort to speak to somebody. I need a face-to-face appointment, as my medical predicament is not appropriate for a telephone consultation, but also, I am profoundly deaf, so such an appointment is clearly not suitable for me. Your receptionist told me that there were no 'walk-in' appointments available for that day, and I would need to phone in, or visit at 08.00 hrs. to have a greater chance of sustaining such an appointment; - I explained that I had found this process unfruitful. I was then told that there were no appointment slots available - with any doctor before Christmas - let alone my own, - so I asked for one after the Xmas period. Again, I was told that no appointment could be made for me at this time. I took the only subsequent advice afforded me, and phoned the 111 emergency service, which I am pleased to say, did find me a time slot, that day, at another practice in Whitstable, where a Nurse Practitioner examined me physically, and prescribed medication. The Nurse told me that I should make an appointment with my own doctor within the next week, for "A Review" of my condition. When I mentioned that I had found this difficult, I was told that I need to be assertive, and insist on seeing my Doctor personally. Now, from my experiences detailed above, I very much doubt that this is going to prove possible, so perhaps you can understand my predicament here, and thus I must ask you for your advice and guidance on a suitable way forward for me. I trust you will agree that I have not been afforded a very good service on this occasion.
Visited December 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Excellent Practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Claire - Posted on 23 December 2022
I've had wonderful care and support from the teams at both Chartham and Northgate practices, receiving great care and always being met with kindness and consideration, thank you all so much.
Visited December 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Very poor experience
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 24 November 2022
Can't get through on the phone, can't get a face-to-face appointment. Can't speak to anybody that is medically trained. Frustrating and time consuming to say the least, can't even book an appointment through the website.
Visited November 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Poor telephone system
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 28 November 2022
I have been a patient here for a good few years now and have always found the service I received to be friendly and efficient. This year things have changed and it is now almost impossible to get through to anyone on the phone. You are told to ring at 8am to get an appointment but 9 times out of 10 when I ring I just get the engaged tone and this is the case at any time of day. I wouldn't mind if I was placed in a queue and there were 100 calls before me but to simply get the engaged tone all the time is ridiculous. I understand the NHS and GP surgeries are under a lot of pressure but surely they can do better than this as I know most other surgeries allow you to be placed in a queue. My application to change surgeries is currently in progress.
Visited November 2022
Review titled Northgate Medical Practice
Replied on 29 November 2022
Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry you have had a bad experience. We upgraded our phone system in the summer, which allows more patients to queue and offers a call back system. We would be very interested in tracing any of the calls that you have made to see if there is a problem that we are unaware of. Sadly it may just be due to the number of patients calling the Practice at the time. If you would like to email the practice and provide further details we will be more than happy to investigate further.
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Review titled Great practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 18 November 2022
My review is the complete opposite of the previous one i have read. Yes they are busy, and yes they are struggling just like any NHS facility is at this current time. I had a telephone consult (my choice) but GP wanted to see me face to face so i saw him that afternoon. Referred for x-ray and bloods - reassured ++ an NHS service under pressure is not news, they are coping the best they can. Move somewhere else if you are not happy, its your choice in the end. I am staying put !! great practice
Visited November 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled This is the worst practice I've ever had dealings with
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 17 November 2022
Like other reviewers, it is impossible even to get a phone call. I phoned today (17/11) and was told the first phone appointment was on 15/12 - exactly four weeks hence. Told to phone at 8am but you can never get through; once I went in physically at 8am and was told to call. Either they are grossly mismanaging their resources (my feeling) or no-one is actually working there. The fact that you cannot contact them on E-consult, that they don't answer poor reviews and their receptionists are always so rude completes the picture. Avoid if possible. Is it surprising that A&E is always full if this is what happens when you try to contact your GP? I don't think I've even managed to speak to someone for well over a year. I'm assuming this is their plan: to annoy "patients" so much that no-one even tries to get an appointment any more.
Visited November 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Excellent physio and pharmacist
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Alison - Posted on 21 October 2022
Following ongoing pain in my hand and wrist I saw the physio, she was excellent, arranged x-rays, advice on diet and supplements and asked the practice pharmacist to phone me about pain relief. Had x- rays the same evening, pharmacist phoned me and prescription was ready at my local chemist within 24 hours. Great service from both the physio and pharmacist.
Visited October 2022
Northgate Medical Practice has not yet replied.